Abstract
Pathology of the acromioclavicular (AC) joint spans the spectrum from acute traumatic separation to chronic degenerative change. Degenerative changes are frequently seen on plain radiographs, but are not universally symptomatic. On T2 sequences of MRI, bony edema correlates more frequently with symptomatic as opposed to asymptomatic individuals. Operative treatment includes arthroscopic distal clavicle excision. Traumatic separations of the AC joint are classified based on ligamentous injuries and the resulting relationship between the positions of the distal clavicle and the acromion. There are many different options for operative management of AC separations. Suprascapular nerve compression at the suprascapular notch can present with vague shoulder pain and be diagnosed with MRI showing mass lesion, atrophy of supraspinatus and infraspinatus, and EMG. Operative treatment includes arthroscopic decompression by releasing the transverse scapular ligament.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Lemos MJ. The evaluation and treatment of the injured acromioclavicular joint in athletes. Am J Sports Med. 1998;26(1):137–44.
Moen TC, Babatunde OM, Hsu SH, Ahmad CA, Levine WN. Suprascapular neuropathy: what does the literature show? J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012;21(6):835–46.
Allman Jr FL. Fractures and ligamentous injuries of the clavicle and its articulation. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1967;49(4):774–84.
Weaver JK, Dunn H. Treatment of acromioclavicular injuries, especially complete acromioclavicular separation. J Bone Joint Surg. 1972;54-A(6):1187–94.
Fialka C, Stampfl P, Oberleitner G, Vecsei V. Traumatic acromioclavicular joint separation—current concepts. Eur Surg. 2004;36(1):20–4.
Gerber C, Rockwood Jr CA. Subcoracoid dislocation of the lateral end of the clavicle. A report of three cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1987;69(6):924–7.
Li X, Ma R, Bedi A, Dines DM, Altchek DW, Dines JS. Current concepts review: management of acromioclavicular joint injuries. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2014;96-A(1):73–84.
Amendola NA, Richmond J, Sgaglione NA. Chapter 27, Arthroscopic suprascapular nerve release. In: Barber FA, Bynum JA, editors. Operative arthroscopy [internet]. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2012. p. 318–26.
Lubahn JD, Cermak MB. Uncommon nerve compression syndromes of the upper extremity. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 1998;6(6):378–86.
Boykin RE, Friedman DJ, Zimmer ZR, Oaklander AL, Higgins LD, Warner JP. Suprascapular neuropathy in a shoulder referral practice. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2011;20(6):983–8.
Polguj M, Sibiński M, Grzegorzewski A, Grzelak P, Majos A, Topol M. Variation in morphology of suprascapular notch as a factor of suprascapular nerve entrapment. Int Orthop. 2013;37(11):2185–92.
Shubin Stein BE, Ahmad CS, Pfaff CH, Bigliani LU, Levine WN. A comparison of magnetic resonance imaging findings of the acromioclavicular joint in symptomatic versus asymptomatic patients. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2006;15(1):56–9.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ahillen, E.J., Braman, J.P., Tompkins, M. (2015). Disorders of the AC Joint and Suprascapular Nerve Compression Syndrome. In: Brockmeier, S. (eds) MRI-Arthroscopy Correlations. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2645-9_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2645-9_18
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2644-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2645-9
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)